Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), a leading refinery and group company of IndianOil, has published official Notification No. HRD:03:26 dated 22 September 2026 for the engagement of apprentices for the year 2026-27 under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Opportunities are open across Trade (ITI & 10th/12th), Technician (Diploma in Engineering), and Graduate (Engineering & Non-Engineering) disciplines. Applications are accepted strictly online through the national apprenticeship portals (NAPS and NATS) up to 12 October 2026. Selection is entirely merit-based with no written examination or interview.
CPCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026-27: Latest Update
CPCL released Notification No. HRD:03:26 on 22 September 2026 inviting eligible fresh candidates to undergo apprenticeship training across its refinery and administrative units in Chennai. Candidates must submit their applications online through the designated NAPS portal (apprenticeshipindia.gov.in) or NATS portal (nats.education.gov.in) according to their qualifying trade by searching for "Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited" as the establishment. The online registration and application window definitively closes on 12 October 2026.
ℹ️ Official Clarification on Vacancy Count
The official CPCL notification HRD:03:26 dated 22 September 2026 does not specify a single total vacancy number. It enumerates the eligible apprenticeship streams, required qualifications, applicable stipends, and portal mappings. Candidates should be cautious of third-party websites claiming fabricated vacancy figures (such as 100, 200, or 250 posts), as no overall numerical quota is stated in the official notification.
CPCL Apprentice Categories, Disciplines & Stipend Matrix
The official notification encompasses 10 distinct apprenticeship streams under the Apprentices Act, 1961. The table below details the essential qualification, monthly stipend, and the mandatory registration portal for each stream:
| Sl. | Apprentice Category / Trade | Prescribed Qualification | Stipend | Portal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trade Apprentice (ITI Passed) 10 Trades: Fitter, Welder, Electrician, MMV, Machinist, RAC, Instrument Mech, Draughtsman (Civil/Mech), COPA | Matric + Regular full-time 2-year ITI recognized by NCVT / SCVT | ₹11,040 /m | NAPS |
| 2 | Laboratory Assistant (Chemical Plant) | B.Sc. Chemistry with Physics, Mathematics OR Biology | ₹12,300 /m | NAPS |
| 3 | Graduate Apprentice (Non-Engineering) | BA / B.Com / B.Sc / BCA / BBA Degree | ₹12,300 /m | NATS |
| 4 | Secretarial Office Assistant – Oil & Gas | Graduate in any discipline (Non-Engineering) | ₹12,300 /m | NAPS |
| 5 | Executive (Human Resource) – Oil & Gas | 2-year full-time MBA (HR) / MSW / PG Diploma in Personnel Management / PM & IR | ₹12,300 /m | NAPS |
| 6 | Graduate Apprentice (Degree in Engineering) Chemical, Mechanical, EEE, ECE, Instrumentation, Civil, CSE, IT, Fire & Safety, Environmental Safety | BE / B.Tech in the respective engineering discipline | ₹12,300 /m | NATS |
| 7 | Technician Apprentice (Diploma in Engineering) Chemical, Mechanical, EEE, ECE, Instrumentation | Diploma in the respective engineering discipline | ₹10,900 /m | NATS |
| 8 | Guest House Service Assistant | Class 10th Pass (Food & Beverages for Canteen & Housekeeping) | ₹8,200 /m | NAPS |
| 9 | Data Entry Operator (Fresher Apprentice) | Class 12th passed but below Graduate | ₹4,800 – ₹9,600 /m | NAPS |
| 10 | Data Entry Operator (Skilled Certificate Holders) | Class 12th passed + Skill Certificate of "Domestic Data Entry Operator" (< 1 year, NSQF / Govt. recognized) | ₹9,600 /m | NAPS |
Mandatory Passing Year & Marks Criteria
📅 Passing Year Window (2022 to 2026)
Only candidates who successfully completed and passed their qualifying examination in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, or 2026 are eligible. Candidates who graduated or passed prior to 2022 cannot apply.
🎖️ Minimum Qualifying Marks
Candidates must possess a First Class with a minimum of 60% marks in aggregate. Candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwBD categories are eligible with a relaxed minimum of 55% marks.
Strict Qualification Clauses: No Equivalent Degrees & No Result-Awaited
- No Equivalent Qualification: The notification explicitly states: "No equivalent qualification other than those mentioned above will be considered eligible." Candidates cannot claim eligibility on the basis of allied or similar-sounding branch names.
- Result Awaited Candidates Not Eligible: Applicants whose final examination result is pending or not yet officially declared as on the application date are strictly ineligible.
- Previous Job Condition: Candidates who have already undergone apprenticeship elsewhere or who have "undergone job elsewhere for one year or more" are not eligible to apply under the Apprentices Act.
Apprenticeship Portal Mapping: NAPS vs NATS
A critical step in CPCL recruitment is ensuring registration on the correct statutory apprenticeship portal. Applying on the wrong portal will result in the application not reaching CPCL:
| Feature / Parameter | NAPS (National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme) | NATS (National Apprenticeship Training Scheme) |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible CPCL Streams | Sl. Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9 & 10 (Trade ITI, Lab Asst, Guest House Asst, Secretarial Asst, Executive HR, DEO) | Sl. Nos. 3, 6 & 7 (Non-Engg Graduate, Engg Degree Graduate, Diploma Technician) |
| Official Portal URL | apprenticeshipindia.gov.in | nats.education.gov.in |
| Government DBT Provision | Not specifically stated as 50% DBT in this notification | 50% of total monthly stipend paid directly through Government DBT |
| Aadhaar Bank Seeding | Portal standard registration | Mandatory: Active Aadhaar-seeded, DBT-enabled bank account required |
| Establishment Name Search | Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited | Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited |
💳 NATS Apprentices: Direct Beneficiary Transfer (DBT) Account Mandate
For Graduate and Technician apprentices registered under NATS (Sl. Nos. 3, 6, and 7), the notification specifies that 50% of the total monthly stipend will be paid via Direct Beneficiary Transfer (DBT) directly by the Government of India into the apprentice’s bank account. Therefore, candidates must possess an active, Aadhaar-seeded, DBT-enabled bank account. Candidates can verify their seeding status on the official UIDAI portal: myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in/bank-seeding-status.
CPCL Apprentice Selection Process: 100% Merit-Based
The official notification states that selection and shortlisting will be conducted strictly through a merit list compiled from the percentage of marks obtained in the prescribed essential qualification applicable to the respective trade.
*Training Duration Note: The training period is not specified in the three-page notification HRD:03:26. Candidates should refer to the contract details generated on the NAPS/NATS portal or subsequent CPCL engagement orders. Apprenticeship does not confer any right or guarantee of permanent absorption in CPCL.
Application Form: Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applying on NATS for an ITI trade or on NAPS for an Engineering Degree leads to instant rejection. Follow the portal mapping strictly.
Both NAPS and NATS require complete e-KYC, bank details, and 100% profile completion before applying to establishment opportunities.
Applicants who completed their qualification prior to 2022 are not eligible under Advt. HRD:03:26.
High portal traffic on the final day may cause portal timeouts. Submit applications well in advance.